I am going to buy a new 06 sport this week. My dealer has a 3.0 and a 4.0 for close to the same price. Which engine will last longer with meticulous maintenance? I know the 3.0's are known for longevity and durability, but is the 4.0 the same? I work for a merchandising company and travel about 400 miles a week. Gas mileage is an issue, but I only get 20 mpg now, so it's not a huge deal. BTW, it is a DSG extended cab 5 speed. Just not sure about which engine to go with.

 

i cant get 20 with my 3.0, but i think the 4.0 gets better mileage........someone with a 4.0 chime in

 

I like the 4.0 for the power that it has. I get about 15+mpg city and 18+mpg Highway with only FlowMaster Dual exhaust to help it. Most people on here that have the 3.slow want the 4.0, so keep that in mind too.

 

no 4.0 doesnt get metter millage... it can with the right mods but it would take you a long time to gain it back...

they both are really good engines but the 4.0sohc has only really been around in rangers since 01' and so there arent that many of them with high miles...

id go with the 4.0, faster, more powerful....but it gets maybe 1-2 less then the 3.0s 18-19...

 

The 4.0 seemed a lot more powerful. The 3.0 pulled like my old 4 cyl wrangler. I plan on adding intake, exhaust, and a tune before too long, so that should help out the mileage a little. I think I'm going with the 4.0, just hope it will last to 150k or so.

 

Ive got many mods done to mine, nothing to really make a dif in performance. With 32x11-16'' BFG's on it, i get 17 IN TOWN. 20-21 on the highway. Ide reccomend the 4.0 because it has more HP the more HP the less the motor is working to haul the truck around. Put an intake and exhaust on it to make it breath (not that that would make a huge dif, none i noticed), i think youll be around 20. Or Averaging 20

 

It should, I have heard of a few lasting that long. I have driven both the 3.slow and the 4.0 and I definately perfered my 4.0. It was alot faster and had more power.
The 3.0 just took forever to get going!

 

Ive got 120k on mine, i do about 300 miles a week, not including the riding around i do on the weekend, ive done plugs, fuel filter, minor stuff. The biggest problem i have now is an annoying squeek (nothing major just the tensioner). Still runs awesome!

 

the bama chips is good for millage... so if your planning on getting one down the road go with the 4.0 for sure and get an E-fan before you get the intake, it will help out more more...

 

3.0 will last longer IMO. Each has their own pro's and con's. I have a 3.0 and love it, never has let me down and I beat the crap out of it but when I'm in my "Spirited" mood, I wish it was a 4.0.

4.0 has has more power and gets about the same gas mileage 3.0 (I'm talking 4x2s here). If I had to do it all over again, and was able to find a 4.0 (Couldn't find one anywhere when I was looking), I would go with the 4.0. I love my engine to death...but having 50+ hp from the get go stock is sweet (I'm in my spirited mood right now...)

If you plan on doing a lot of highway driving, check the gearing. 4.10/3.73s on the highway suck but are good for city. 3.55 is a good highway gear. Gearing will matter more then the engine, since both get about the same mileage.

 

Hey Jeff the 4.0 has been around in the ranger since the gen 2 style....they are not new

 

The truck has 3.55 gears. I do 85% highway driving. The two trucks are about $500 apart in price, so I am leaning towards the 4.0. The 4.0 has jumpseats, tilt, cruise, and privacy glass. The 3.0 has running boards and 6 disc in dash cd, and privacy glass. Both are manual extended cabs.

 

After driving both the 3.0 and 4.0 ide go with the 4.0 because like someone else said, you start off with 50 more horse from factory, gas mileage isnt much different, but ive found that the 4.0 gets better mpg because of the increase in HP, its struggling less to haul all the weight of the truck around....


I love my 4.0, it flys! For $500 ide do the 4.0

 

4.0 manual....2x4 would be my guess....get it

 

Thanks guys, you've been very helpful.

 

With 3.55 gears and 85% highway usage, go w/ the 4.0.

 

Actually the SOHC 4.0L has been around in the Ranger since '01 and '97 in the Explorers. But yah the old 4.0L OHV was put to use in the early 90's in the Ranger. BTW the OHV 4.0L had like 160hp/220lb-ft compared to the 3.0L's 150hp/185lb-ft.. So I dont see a huge difference in PERFORMANCE, but down in the RPMs torque is where you'll feel a bit more power. Now the SOHC 4.0L makes ~205hp/240lb-ft and will feel the difference up in the RPMS. I personally like the 3.0L because it has low down torque (usable driving power), mate it with the manual tranny and it'll be peppy. Like 'Rangeredge02' said, I beat the hell out of mine as well and it has taken the abuse for a good 78k miles so far with no engine problems. I say, for DURABILITY- the 3.0L wins that case (IMO), the engine has been around for a good time, it's proven. Performance wise, eh I couldnt tell a huge difference in the 2006 4.0L/auto 4x2 Sport that I drove and the '05 STX 3.0L/manual, the STX actually felt peppier. I thought the 4.0L was slower than I expected, and I hated the way the tranny shifted- just seemed sluggish. I just expected more out of the truck since the way some of yall SOHC guys on here talk about em
Oh yah- forgot to add.. If you're wanting a Ranger for REAL performance, you're barking up the wrong alley- Get a Mustang GT- you'll be much happier- better mileage and MUCH MUCH MUCH more power

 

4.go
3.slow

i say 4.0 i have no complaints about mine 65,000 here.

 

i got 350,000 miles on my 92 2.3 4cyl so i think those are the best

 

those 2.3 seem to run forever.

 

OHV baby. Why do you think GM is still running OHV in the vette and in their trucks..and thus they still get more power outta their engines than Ford.

 

Because they are too cheap to spend the R&D money to figure out how an OHC works.

99% of 3.0 owners on here wish they had a 4.0L, for that reason alone i wouldn,t want a 3.0.

 

I have a 3.0 and its quick enough to get me up to 90 on the on ramp but i have a stick. I geuss if I could do it all over i would get the 4.0 but i still have no complaints with the 3.0 and i have 63000 miles

 

I do really like my 6 disk in dash so i dunno what i would choose